--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The world is fleeting; all things pass…" description: "\"The world is fleeting; all things pass away; Or is it we that pass and they that stay?\" — Lucian" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/lucian-23536_all-things_the-world-is-fleeting-all-things-pass-aw_730432.png" --- # The world is fleeting; all things pass away; Or is it we… ![“The world is fleeting; all things pass away; Or is it we that pass and they that stay?” quote by Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/lucian-23536_all-things_the-world-is-fleeting-all-things-pass-aw_730432.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/lucian-23536_all-things_the-world-is-fleeting-all-things-pass-aw_730432.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/lucian-23536_all-things_the-world-is-fleeting-all-things-pass-aw_730432.png) > “The world is fleeting; all things pass away; Or is it we that pass and they that stay?” [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life’s transience prompts reflection on what truly endures; perhaps we are the lasting element. **In simple terms:** Life passes, we may remain. Key Takeaway Consider lasting impact beyond fleeting moments. Themes mortality legacy philosophy Mood contemplative serene Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal journaling - legacy projects - teaching - art creation Key Concepts Stoicism temporal vs eternal Questions to Reflect On - What do you want to be remembered for? - How do you balance living now with building legacy? A Different Perspective Focusing on permanence can cause neglect of present joy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Passing away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passing-away/) [Tranquility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tranquility/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [All good things pass away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/all-good-things-pass-away/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [Time is that in which all things pass away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/time-is-that-in-which-all-things-pass-away/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [All things must pass, all things must pass away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/all-things-must-pass-all-things-must-pass-away/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [no person will ever get into my blood as a place can ... People and things pass away, but not places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-du-maurier/no-person-will-ever-get-into-my-blood-as-a-place-can-people-and/) [Daphne du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-du-maurier/) > [“All things pass away. Only Love and her creations endure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iimani-david/all-things-pass-away-only-love-and-her-creations-endure/) [Iimani David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iimani-david/) > [It is so often the odd, the unexpected, the apparently trifling, that stamps itself upon the memory for ever, while much more memorable things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-meynell/it-is-so-often-the-odd-the-unexpected-the-apparently-trifling-that/) [Esther Meynell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-meynell/) > [Fate! Fate! All things pass away; Life is forever, youth is for a day. Love again if you may Before the stars are blown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gould-fletcher/fate-fate-all-things-pass-away-life-is-forever-youth-is-for-a-day/) [John Gould Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gould-fletcher/) > [The satisfaction derived from the fleeting things of life is not lasting; and our wants remain unfulfilled. There is thus a general sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/the-satisfaction-derived-from-the-fleeting-things-of-life-is-not/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [“These memories of happiness are fleeting things, reflections in a stream, glimpsed all broken for a second and then swept away in the current…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/these-memories-of-happiness-are-fleeting-things-reflections-in-a/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“Memories were such fleeting things, yet the human brain stored them like food for the winter of old age.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-bylin/memories-were-such-fleeting-things-yet-the-human-brain-stored-them/) Victoria Bylin > [In my own life if I knew I was going to pass away I'd love to sit down and resolve every issue so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-travolta/in-my-own-life-if-i-knew-i-was-going-to-pass-away-i-d-love-to-sit/) [John Travolta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-travolta/) > [Normally you don't have the benefit of preparing someone to pay homage to you and what you've done in your life. Usually, you pass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usher/normally-you-don-t-have-the-benefit-of-preparing-someone-to-pay/) [Usher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usher/) > [The man who dies leaving behind him millions of available wealth, which was his to administer during his life, will pass away unwept, unhonoured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/the-man-who-dies-leaving-behind-him-millions-of-available-wealth/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [The days of life pass away like clouds, so do good while you are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-days-of-life-pass-away-like-clouds-so-do-good-while-you-are-alive/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you live for pleasure, your ability to enjoy it may pass away and your senses grow dim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-simpson/if-you-live-for-pleasure-your-ability-to-enjoy-it-may-pass-away-and/) [Matthew Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-simpson/) ## More by Lucian > [I was still more concerned (a preference which you may be far from resenting) to strike a blow for Epicurus, that great man whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/i-was-still-more-concerned-a-preference-which-you-may-be-far-from/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [The truth is hidden from us. Even if a mere piece of luck brings us straight to it, we shall have no grounded conviction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/the-truth-is-hidden-from-us-even-if-a-mere-piece-of-luck-brings-us/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [How gracious are the gods in bestowing high positions; and how reluctant are they to insure them when given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/how-gracious-are-the-gods-in-bestowing-high-positions-and-how/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [Everybody dies. Some just need a little help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/everybody-dies-some-just-need-a-little-help/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [The lips are closed, for the dancer has plenty of other voices at his service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/the-lips-are-closed-for-the-dancer-has-plenty-of-other-voices-at-his/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [The historian's one task is to tell the thing as it happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/the-historian-s-one-task-is-to-tell-the-thing-as-it-happened/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [The American soldier demonstrated that, properly equipped, trained and led, he has no superior among all the armies of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/the-american-soldier-demonstrated-that-properly-equipped-trained-and/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [Be grateful. By slaying you now, I spare you an eternity of torment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/be-grateful-by-slaying-you-now-i-spare-you-an-eternity-of-torment/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [Wise is the person at either end. Who can in due measure spare as well as spend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/wise-is-the-person-at-either-end-who-can-in-due-measure-spare-as-well/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [Dancing is as old as love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/dancing-is-as-old-as-love/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [The effort only shifted me from the frying-pan into the fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/the-effort-only-shifted-me-from-the-frying-pan-into-the-fire/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [Death is a mercy, and I have enough mercy to go around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/death-is-a-mercy-and-i-have-enough-mercy-to-go-around/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [There is no happiness without tears, no life without death. Beware! I am going to make you cry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/there-is-no-happiness-without-tears-no-life-without-death-beware-i-am/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [The poor wretches have convinced themselves that they are going to be immortal and live for all time, by worshipping that crucified sophist and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/the-poor-wretches-have-convinced-themselves-that-they-are-going-to-be/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [It is not lawful or proper for you to know everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/it-is-not-lawful-or-proper-for-you-to-know-everything/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) [Explore all 25 Lucian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) ## More All things quotes > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... What this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-swimme/a-tree-is-a-self-it-is-unseen-shaping-more-than-it-is-leaves-or-bark/) [Brian Swimme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-swimme/) > [Dear God, I trust that no matter what happens in my life, it is for my highest good. And no matter what happens in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/dear-god-i-trust-that-no-matter-what-happens-in-my-life-it-is-for-my/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [Moderation, honey, in all things but love and chocolate. That's my motto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bretton/moderation-honey-in-all-things-but-love-and-chocolate-that-s-my-motto/) [Barbara Bretton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bretton/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) James Nayler > [What greater weakness can there be than not to know what is the source of one's being, of one's life, of one's senses, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/what-greater-weakness-can-there-be-than-not-to-know-what-is-the/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [It is more than a little ironic that "capital accumulation" once a rather tendentious Marxian view of a supposed capitalist obsession, should have become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kuttner/it-is-more-than-a-little-ironic-that-capital-accumulation-once-a/) [Robert Kuttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kuttner/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Time, which wears down and diminishes all things, augments and increases good deeds, because a good turn liberally offered to a reasonable man grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/time-which-wears-down-and-diminishes-all-things-augments-and/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [Standing as a witness in all things means being kind in all things, being the first to say hello, being the first to smile,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-nadauld/standing-as-a-witness-in-all-things-means-being-kind-in-all-things/) [Margaret D. Nadauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-nadauld/) > [The eternal principle, which never was born, never will die: it is in all things: it is in you now. You are the wave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-eternal-principle-which-never-was-born-never-will-die-it-is-in/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The U.S. Army has recently removed the cross from the insignia worn by chaplains. In its place is a sun with its rays, symbolizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murray/the-u-s-army-has-recently-removed-the-cross-from-the-insignia-worn-by/) [Chris Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murray/) > [...God does not possess a private knowledge of Himself and a separate knowledge of all the creatures in common. The universal Cause, by knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-dionysius/god-does-not-possess-a-private-knowledge-of-himself-and-a-separate/) [Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/) Browse all 2,486 All things quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The world is fleeting; all things pass away; Or is it we that pass and they that stay?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lucian" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/the-world-is-fleeting-all-things-pass-away-or-is-it-we-that-pass-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "All things" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/the-world-is-fleeting-all-things-pass-away-or-is-it-we-that-pass-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/lucian-23536_all-things_the-world-is-fleeting-all-things-pass-aw_730432.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/lucian-23536_all-things_the-world-is-fleeting-all-things-pass-aw_730432.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/lucian-23536_all-things_the-world-is-fleeting-all-things-pass-aw_730432.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The world is fleeting; all things pass away; Or is it we that pass and they that stay?” — Lucian", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Lucian", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The world is fleeting; all things...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/the-world-is-fleeting-all-things-pass-away-or-is-it-we-that-pass-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/the-world-is-fleeting-all-things-pass-away-or-is-it-we-that-pass-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```